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Our team can only do so much, so we trust other healthcare providers to complement the wellness services we offer at East Village Spa. Today, we’re pleased to introduce you to Braxton Pulley, DC, owner of East Village Chiropractic at 300 East Locust Suite 140. (515) 288-8058.

How long have you been providing chiropractic services? Our office opened in 2004.

What services do you offer? We provide chiropractic care for a variety of back, neck, arm, and leg injuries and chronic pain conditions. We also provide school physicals for student athletes.

What are some of the reasons people seek your services? Our primary focus is to make sure anyone that is hurting finds out what is happening and gets help. We are excellent at diagnosing conditions and provide fantastic care where we can. If we can’t help, we will work with the entire medical community to help find the best answer or referral for that person.

Are there specific conditions that you’ve had exceptional success treating? We have had great treatment responses to neck and back pain syndromes as expected for chiropractors. Several other injuries that have responded well to our care include shoulder and arm problems, hip problems, and issues with the feet. The combination of soft tissue work and chiropractic adjustments seems to provide great results with these challenges.

How do your services complement the services at East Village Spa? Most people working 9 to 5 with 2.5 kids and the picket fence often don’t have the time to properly take care of their body. We help people get started on the road to good health, but more is needed outside the care we can provide. The expertise and care provided by the massage therapists at East Village Spa is wonderful not only in aiding and treating muscular problems, but keeping you healthy overall.

What can people expect during their initial visit? The first visit is very straightforward and takes about 30 minutes. We have the usual forms to complete (which can be done early at www.eastvillagechiro.com) and then you will sit down with the doctor to determine what is going on with your pain or the concern that brought you in for a visit.

After an exam focusing on your areas of complaint, we will discuss what your diagnosis is and what options you have to take care of it. Often, we can help, but if we can’t, we will refer you where you can get the help you need.

Do you accept insurance? Yes, we accept most forms of insurance. Our staff will contact your carrier to verify your coverage to make the process easier for you.

How can people learn more about your services? Please visit our website at www.eastvillagechiro.com. We are also on Facebook and Google+ as EastVillageChiropractic. Also, don’t hesitate to call (515) 288-8058 with questions or to schedule an appointment. Dr. Pulley also welcomes your e-mails at braxtonpulley@gmail.com.

To learn how East Village Spa services can be beneficial in conjunction with your chiropractic care, talk to Dr. Pulley or learn more about our services at www.EVDaySpa.com

East Village Spa and East Village Chiropractic have won Des Moines’ Best awards year after year. We are proud to work closely with Dr. Pulley!

Some people experience periods of time when their fingers or toes turn color to white or blue and go numb. This phenomenon is called Raynaud’s disease and it is fairly common, affecting 5-10% of the population.

Raynaud’s disease is a condition characterized by periods of time when the fingers or toes (sometimes nose and ears) turn color and go numb due to an interruption of blood flow to the extremities due to a vasospasm (Mayo Clinic). Often they will turn white, sometimes blue, and then red when blood flow returns. Typically people with Reynaud’s feel numbness in the affected areas during an episode and may experience pain when blood flow returns. The most common cause of a flare up is exposure to cold, though sometimes people experience the phenomenon during times of stress.

Raynaud’s may be primary (meaning it isn’t due to an underlying cause) or secondary (the phenomenon is due to a condition such as nerve damage, carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.). According to Mayo Clinic, some medications can also cause the Raynaud’s phenomenon.

The majority of people who experience Raynaud’s symptoms do not report it to a physician, (Raynauds.org) but it is worth noting at your next medical visit as occasionally Raynaud’s disease presents before a more serious disorder.

Nails may turn blue during an episode and over time, nails might develop ridges related to Raynaud’s.

Can spa treatments help with Raynaud’s disease?

While I could not find research on spa services and Raynaud’s disease, some services may help with some of the causes and help to reduce some of the symptoms.

Deep tissue or orthopedic massage may be able to help people with wrist, arm, and hand injuries (like carpal tunnel) that may be contributing to the Raynaud’s phenomenon.

Hot stone massages will likely feel great and boost circulation for individuals who are perpetually cold, but aren’t going to “cure” Raynaud’s phenomenon.

If you notice an increase in Raynaud’s phenomenon at times of emotional stress, you might consider regular massage or spa services you enjoy that have been shown to lower stress.

If you are self conscious about the way your nails look as a result of Raynaud’s disease (sometimes nails can become “spooned” or develop ridges) a professional manicure and application of a shimmer or glitter polish can help to disguise any nail disfiguration due to the Raynaud’s.

Products like Kneipp mineral baths are great to purchase for an at-home spa experience to warm up during a flare-up. I personally use the Kneipp mineral baths after every cooler-weather run to relax my muscles and bring blood flow back to my hands and feet.

Can spa services trigger Raynaud’s phenomenon?

Spa services aren’t likely to trigger Raynaud’s phenomenon unless you get cold. It would be wise to let your provider know any concerns. Options to make sure your hands and feet don’t get too cold:

Ask if you can keep your socks on during a massage until the therapist works on your feet (I usually do this!)

Ask for an extra blanket on hand in the room.

During pedicures or manicures, after a soak in water, ask for your foot or hand to be wrapped in a towel so it isn’t exposed to air

Cut the toes off of a pair of old socks and bring them to put on before your nail technician polishes your nails. While your toes will be exposed, at least your feet will be warmer while your polish dries. You can cut the finger tips off of an inexpensive pair of “one-size-fits-all” stretch gloves for a winter manicure.

After a service like a body wrap or hot stone massage, make sure to have plenty of warm clothes and gloves (especially in winter) or grab a cup of hot tea to hold after your service so you aren’t shocked by a temperature change.

If you are one of many of us who experience discomfort from Raynaud’s, don’t be afraid to speak up when getting a massage, skin care, or nail care service! Your provider will be happy to make adjustments because he or she wants to make sure you can get full enjoyment and benefit from their work without worrying about your fingers and toes going numb!

My Facebook and Twitter feeds are often full of health and beauty posts, but not all of it is sound (or accurate!). Pinterest is especially full of health and skincare tips of questionable benefit, or worse, potential for harm. With so many people posting and sharing information, it is easy to lose sight of what information is helpful, safe, and accurate.

When reading information online, ask yourself the following questions:

Is the information based on unbiased research (i.e. did a product manufacturer do their own research?)

What is the quality of the research? (How big of a study? Was the study controlled? Peer reviewed?)

Who maintains the website? (.gov is a governmental agency, .org is an organization, .edu is an educational institution)

What resources (if any) are cited with the information? (journals like the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) New England Journal of Medicine, studies from teaching institutions, research from professional associations like American Massage Therapy Association or American Dermatological Association)

Is there contact information from the author on the site?

How recent is the information? Is there a date when the information or website was last updated readily available?

Does it seem too good to be true? (If it does, it generally is!)

Are other sites or sources backing up the information?

If you aren’t sure if something you read online is true, you can check it out at www.snopes.com!

If you are wanting to research a health topic, some good places to start are:

http://www.medlineplus.gov (National library of Medicine)

http://www.mayoclinic.org (Mayo clinic is very supportive of complementary and integrative medicine and research!)

Our estheticians want to shed light on a few common misconceptions about skincare. It is easy to see why people get confused because these ideas are sometimes completely counterintuitive!

Myth: The best way to treat excessively oily skin is by drying it out.

Truth: While it seems like drying out oily skin is the best route, skipping moisturizer or using a harsh toner to try to dry skin can actually strip natural oils from the skin causing the skin to over-produce oil to protect itself. The best option to hydrate oily skin is a serum or gel moisturizer. These products will absorb quickly and skin won’t “panic” and produce even more oil.

Serums or gels, like the Rhonda Allison Blushed Wine Gel are great light moisturizers to hydrate oily skin.

Myth: Acids are harsh chemicals and aggressive on skin

Truth: The acids we use in skincare are naturally derived and vary in strength and benefit. For example, Hyaluronic Acid, which may sound scary, is naturally occurring in the body in synovial (joint) fluid and in the eye. This acid is used in products to plump and hydrate skin and some medical professionals recommend this for wound and burn healing. Lactic acid is derived from milk and is beneficial for dry, mature skin and is often used to exfoliate without over-drying. Some acids are more potent, but just because a product or ingredient is labeled an “acid” doesn’t mean it is scary.

Cassie getting a light facial peel using a variety of acids from our esthetician, Cammie.

Myth: If you have true acne, you need a good facial (or body) scrub to help unclog pores.

Truth: True acne occurs when excess skin cells, oil, and debris clog pores, potentially leading to infection. Using a mechanical scrub over acneic skin may spread bacteria and increase inflammation, worsening the problem. Depending on the severity of the acne, a chemical exfoliation (don’t let the word “chemical” scare you!) is best. For example, glycolic or salicylic acids, applied topically as recommended by your esthetician or dermatologist, will help to break down skin cells and excess oil without spreading bacteria or increasing irritation.

Gritty scrubs like those pictured above can spread bacteria and further inflame acneic skin. It is best to stick with an acid based exfoliation instead of a manual exfoliation during a breakout.

If you have questions about your skin care or want to find out whether or not something you read online or heard from a friend is accurate, ask your esthetician! To schedule a facial for an in-depth consultation and treatment, click here.

Arnica is a healing herb from the sunflower family found in a diverse array of our home care and treatment products. Arnica is popular as an ingredient in skin care and body care products for its healing and medicinal properties.

Arnica is commonly used in topical preparations to assist with skin irritation, bruising, burns, inflammation and joint pain. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, arnica products, when used topically, are generally considered to be safe. Arnica should not be ingested as it could be toxic, though may be safe in extremely diluted homeopathic formulations under the guidance of a healthcare provider (this blog post does not constitute healthcare advice!)

In an online post about arnica, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center explained that while arnica hasn’t been widely researched, a small body of research has emerged showing it may be effective against osteoarthritis, swelling, and bruising, though more research is warranted.

Our massage therapists will often use a Kneipp arnica cream and cooling arnica gel when working on people with tissue inflammation or bruising. Many of them use these products on their own bruise relief and as self care. Our best-selling Kneipp product is the Arnica Joint and Muscle Bath Salt blend, which people report to be helpful for pain in hips, knees, low back, feet, and other joints when mixed into a hot bath for a relaxing soak.

For more information about our products featuring arnica, be sure to ask your massage therapist, esthetician, or our receptionists at your next visit and check out the resources below.

References:

University of Maryland Medical Center: http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/arnica

Following a White House proclamation in 2011, January is recognized annually as Human Trafficking awareness month. In recent years, organizations like the Polaris Project and government agencies have helped to shed light on how widespread human trafficking and slavery are in America, in big metropolitan areas, affluent suburbs, and quiet rural towns.

The issue of human trafficking is often top of mind for me as a spa owner because facets of this industry have been used as a way to exploit victims of human trafficking and Iowa is not immune.

Fake Massage Businesses

Fake massage businesses masquerade as providing legitimate massage, reflexology, spa, or other health services, but often operate within a network of traffickers. People I’ve spoken with are shocked to see how openly these businesses are advertised online. In 2015 alone there were many raids on parlors:

And in West Des Moines, IOWA in 2015, women were found living on bunk beds in a massage parlor that operated long hours 7 days a week including late nights. Neighboring businesses reported they never saw employees come or go. After a visit from the fire inspector, the parlor was told they could re-open once they met fire code. A city council member asked police to investigate the business for illegal activity, but police declined.

Licensed Massage Therapists are health care providers who have extensive education in their field. While some people laugh and tease licensed massage therapists like my colleagues and me about these parlors, it breaks our heart, especially when the people forced to work in places like this may be slaves, even minors. The reporting and labeling these businesses as “massage” is dangerous to licensed massage therapists like me and puts us at risk for assault or harassment.

It also is unfortunate as it stigmatizes the good work that licensed massage therapists do, making some people less likely to seek services that could truly benefit their health, including pregnant women, cancer survivors, senior citizens, children with disabilities, athletes, and people with high stress levels or injuries.

As a spa owner, I know exactly how much a safe and ethical manicure and pedicure cost. Quality products that are free from the harsh chemicals common in some high volume salons are expensive (Our cost for a bottle of base coat, top coat and one color of Shellac is $65.85, not to mention all the lotions, scrubs, and disposable tools we give to our clients or toss after a service!)

In order to ensure safety, employees can’t rush through services and need to allow adequate time to clean and sterilize their tools. The cleaning and tool sanitation time is time they can’t see clients. If a salon is under pricing services, they will have to make it up in volume which doesn’t always allow for adequate tool or tub cleaning. Nail technicians spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours attending training programs and continuing education so they can provide safe, skilled services.

Basically, my point is that if a nail service is really cheap, something has to give, whether product quality, sanitation (reusing disposable products, not allowing enough time to clean instruments or tubs), or employee compensation. Often, all three.

Like the fake massage businesses, nail salons are also under investigation. The New York Times series set off a rush of legislation and investigations in the northeast in 2015 exposing many labor violations.

It isn’t a recent problem for nail salons. The Huffington Post published an article in 2013 explaining some of the reasons nail salons are easy fronts for human trafficking: Low hour requirements for licensing programs, a predominately cash-based business (easier to launder money), and at least in 2013, they were more under-the-radar than fake massage businesses.

In Virginia, a nail salon is under investigation after human trafficking reports in November

In Connecticut, 23 nail salons were shut down in 2015 for wage and health violations

New Jersey also started cracking down on health and wage violations in nail salons last year.

It is important to note that not all low price or high volume nail salons are engaging in illegal or unethical practices. Nail salons can be an excellent business for people with lower start-up rates and many are operated well by people who are passionate about their career or making an honest living. However, human trafficking is growing at such an alarming rate nationwide, it is important to know the signs and report any suspicions. Learn more about the signs at PolarisProject.org.

If you know someone you suspect is a victim of human trafficking, you can also contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline 1-888-373-7888

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and as a vegetarian, I never feel like I’m missing out because I can make a killer vegetarian meatloaf and amazing veggie gravy, then enjoy all the wonderful sides. For nearly 10 years, we’ve done thanksgiving with friends, typically at least half the group is vegetarian. In recent years, I’ve started doubling my recipe because it freezes well and the leftovers are great for a week.

If you are trying to cut back meat or are going to have a vegetarian guest at some point this winter, give this dish a try! Note: This dish requires a food processor, you could use a blender, but I think it would be really tricky.

The finished product (I wish I had a prettier photo, but I’m not a food stylist. I just like to eat, and I was finishing the gravy while chasing two very muddy dogs around the kitchen)

Cassie’s Veggie “Neat”loaf

Ingredients:

8 slices whole wheat bread (toasted-I do all at once on a baking sheet, then cool)

2 c. pecans (you can use walnuts if you prefer)

3 large eggs (you can use vegan egg substitute, but I’ll be honest: it isn’t as good)

1 yellow onion, roughly chopped

1 large carrot, peeled

1 celery rib

1/2 red, green, or yellow pepper, sliced (whatever is cheapest)

1/2 can diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings (if you use plain, add a pinch of Italian seasonings of your choice)

2. Tear up the cooled, toasted bread into the food processor and process into bread crumbs. Toss in a large bowl.

3. Process the pecans into fine crumbs and toss into the large bowl with the bread crumbs.

4. Process the pepper slices, carrot, and celery until very finely diced and toss into the bowl with the pecans and bread crumbs

The dry ingredients, plus the veggies.

5. Crack 3 eggs into the food processor and add the onion. Process together into a frothy mixture. The onions should be very fine and it should be a liquid. Pour into the large bowl with everything else.

Blend the 3 eggs and the onion until (for lack of a better word) frothy.

6. Add the olive oil and diced tomatoes, plus salt and seasonings of your preference to the bowl and mix well (you might want to use your hands to make sure it is evenly mixed.

7. Pat into the prepared loaf pan and bake covered with foil for 60-70 minutes, remove foil and bake another 10 minutes.

See, looks delicious already!

Top with veggie gravy (I love the Chicago Diner recipe), BBQ Sauce, or Ketchup. The gravy recipe takes awhile to thicken once it cools, and I think it is even better the second day. You can find nutritional yeast typically in the health food section of the grocery store, but I’ve found it in baking sections too. I usually have to ask.

Fun tip: If you make the dry base for the Chicago Diner gravy recipe, it makes a TON. I’ve taken extra and bagged it with the directions to give as holiday gifts to my fellow vegetarians.

My friend Renae shared with me her favorite monster cookie protein ball recipe. It was easy to adapt into a protein ball that was healthier, AND to dip into dark chocolate for a buckeye that had lots of protein and fiber, win-win!

Protein Ball Buckeyes

Ingredients:

Ingredients used for the “made-over” Buckeyes-I doubled the recipe below and made about 50 buckeyes

1 c. old fashioned or quick oats

1/2 c. natural peanut butter (I use one of the easier-to spread versions like Jif)

Dark chocolate for melting and dipping (I used the large dark chocolate bars from Zoet, found at Hyvee)

Combine all above, I found that starting with the peanut butter and honey, then adding the dry ingredients a bit at a time was best. If you can’t quite get them sticky enough to form a ball, add a bit more peanut butter or honey at a time. You’ll need to mix with your hands eventually.

Roll into balls, then place on waxed or parchment paper. To be honest, they are delicious at this point without being chocolate dipped. You can store then in the freezer for a quick protein snack or breakfast this way or continue with the next step.

Melt chocolate squares in microwaveable bowl about 30-45 seconds at a time and stir each time until just melted.

Drop a ball into the chocolate and roll until it is covered, then remove with a spoon and place onto the wax paper. Do this until all protein balls are covered in the dark chocolate, stopping to re-soften the chocolate or add more squares as needed.

Place into fridge to harden faster.

Store in fridge or freezer, depending on how quickly you’ll eat these. (Warning, it might be pretty quick-I had to tell my husband to back-off because they were so good).

The finished protein buckeyes, ready for sampling at the Promenade (unless my husband finds them first).

While these protein buckeyes do have more fiber, nutrients, and protein than regular buckeyes, do note they are certainly not low calorie and are ideal for active lifestyles or a grab and go breakfast replacement!

I’m a sucker for holiday cookies, candies, bars, you name it. I also love finding recipes for healthier versions of said treats to find perfect recipes to please diverse crowds, from those who love decadent desserts to people who are vegan, gluten free, or have other dietary limitations. This year, I decided to make several healthier versions of classic holiday cookies to serve at our Holiday Promenade event, along with recipes, to inspire others to be creative.

Sometimes my experimentation leads to hilarious cookie fails. Last night one of my cookies had maybe one-too-many healthy substitutions and was deemed by my taste testers as “So bad that if you serve this at Holiday Promenade, you will RUIN Holiday Promenade.” My husband even asked if I made it with potatoes. This explains why my dog that eats anything in sight didn’t try to get the pan off the counter. And I just thought he was being good!

To save our Promenade guests from fails or substitution headaches, I’ll only be serving really yummy treats taste-tested by my picky friends made with easy-to-fi
nd ingredients. This is one of my long-time favorites: Healthy Pecan Sandies.

Pecan Sandies (Gluten Free, Vegan, Paleo, Possibility of being raw)

Ingredients:

1 c. pitted dates

2 c. chopped pecans (use raw if making this as a raw cookie)

zest of half an orange.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Process pecans in a food processor until finely ground. Add pitted dates and orange zest. Process until the mixture starts to pull away from the side and makes a coarse “dough”

Pecan Sandy cookie dough after it has been processed

Roll into walnut sized balls on prepared cookie sheet and press a pecan half into each while flattening slightly. They can be placed close together as they will not spread while baking. Bake at 325 for 12-15 minutes or until bottoms brown slightly. Cool before eating (or they’ll fall apart!)

Pecan sandies ready for the oven (they look the same coming out of the oven!)

To make a raw version, make sure you purchase raw pecans (easy to find in health food stores or Trader Joes) and don’t bake your cookies, but prepare them and freeze in a single layer so they hold their shape. Eat out of the freezer as they’ll crumble as they warm to room temp if you haven’t baked them.

East Village Spa wants to make massage therapy accessible to military personnel and veterans so we offer a specially priced massage therapy treatment year round with their needs in mind. The “Military Massage” is a 60 minute massage designed for active and veteran military personnel facing diverse physical and emotional health needs related to service.

Our Military Massage is also priced at $70/hour, which is a reduced rate from our usual $85/hourly massage rate. This reduced rate is our “Thank You” to those who serve, and we hope this allows for more frequent visits as the benefits of massage build over time.

Common proven benefits of massage therapy correspond to concerns shared by many military personnel due to the nature of their work.

Massage may improve sleep, especially in people who have poor sleep due to pain or psychiatric disorders.

Massage can help ease symptoms of psychiatric disorders including depression and PTSD

Some types of Massage Therapy can address reduced mobility from scar tissue resulting from injuries, surgeries, and burns.

We are thrilled to be able to offer a massage service just to active and veteran military. The first massage will include a detailed health history and a chance to visit with your massage therapist about your treatment goals, whether general relaxation, stress relief, specific injuries or areas of pain that you’d like focus on. Your massage therapist will discuss the best pressure, massage therapy techniques, and self-care to help you achieve your goals. He or she can also refer you to a colleague within the spa for different techniques or may refer to outside providers as needed.

For testimonials of how massage therapy can provide relief to wounded military personnel, click to read this article from Massage and Bodywork about CAUSE (Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services) and wounded warriors receiving massage therapy as part of their treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center.

To schedule a Military Massage, click here and go to our online booking, select “Military Massage” for special pricing or call (515) 309-2904. If you are comfortable doing so, please note any specific injuries or illnesses at the time of booking so that we can research and be prepared for your appointment. Your therapist will guide you to the best massage treatment options for your sessions.